Motor-vehicle transmission mechanism.



J. P. LEGGETT.

MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION'FILED NOV. 13, 1913.

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Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

inventor: d. F. Leggbb by wma b'vs JOSEPH P. LEGGETT, OF CABTHAGE, MISSOURI.

MOTOR-VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

T all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Josiirii P. Liioori'i'r, a citizen of the l'nited States of America,

and a resident of Carthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicle Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear. and ex act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to power transmis sion mechanism, and has for its object the production of a verv inexpensive transmission mechanism for motor vehicles, including differential gearing and axle sections movable to var v the speed of the axle and ground wheels.

Figure I is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a portion of a. motor vehicle e uipped with my transmission mechanism. Fig. ll'isa top or plan view ofthe parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. III is an enlarged frag nientary view of the drive member, the differential gearing, and the axle sections. Fig. IV is a vertical section taken on line IV-lV, Fig. Ill. Fig. V is an enlarged transverse secticn taken on line Vwv, Fig. HI. Fig. Vl is an enlarged transverse section taken on line Vl--VL Fig. Ill.

In the accompanying drawings: 1 designates ground wheels of a motor vehicle fixed to tubular axle sections 2, the latter being rotatably mounted iu bearings 3 and 4. The bearings` 4 are preferably provided with arms t', forming struts for truss members 5 having their ends secured to the bearings 3. The axle sections 2 are formed with cir cular portions which lie within the bearings 3 and 4. and each of said axle sections is shaped interim-lv to receive a non-circular head formed at the end of an adjustable axle section T. lach axle section 7 is secured to one of a paii of differential gear wheels 8. and the non-circular heads 6 on said axle sections are slidablv fitted to the correspon(lingl)y shaped portions of the axle sections 2.

'lhe differential gearing includes pinioiis 9 arranged between and meshing with the differential gear wheels` 8. said pinions beingr carried b v a rotatable driven wheel 10. This driven wheel is preferably a disk, (Fig. lV). provided with openings11.within which the pinions 9 are mounted. Reinforcing arms or stems 12, extending from the center Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 13, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 19141. serial mi. 800,160.

of the driven wheel 10 are arranged in the axle sections 7 to reinforce the. middle portion of the axle structure.

13 designates a motor having a drive shaft 14. and 15 is a drive wheel splined to said shaft. 16 designates a frame extending from the bearings 4 and forming a support for the motor 13. The drive wheel 15 is preferably a friction disk engaging the periphery of the driven wheel 10, and provided with a central pinion 17, adapted to mesh with teeth 17 at one side of the driven wheel 10. The driven wheel is movable along the face of the drive wheel to vary the speed of the axle` and said driven Wheel may be shifted to bring its teeth 17 into mesh with the pinion 17, or the driven wheel may be shifted beyond the pinion to reverse thtli moveinentof the ground wheels and ax e.

It will be understood that the differential gearing, as well as the axle sections 7, move with the driven wheel when` the latter is shifted along the drive wheel, and the differential gears 8 are therefore confined between arms 18 fixed to the drive wheel. To provide for the shifting of the differential gearing and axle sections 7. one of said axle sections is provided with a collar 19, and a shifter ring 2() is fitted to said collar.

21 designates a shifter lever pivotally supported at 22. and connected by links 23 to the shifter ring 20.

To reverse the direction of movement of the motor vehicle, the driven wheel 10 must be shifted over the axis of the drive wheel 15. and then engaged within the drive wheel 15. It is also necessary to shift the drive wheel 15 to move the pinion 17 out of the path of the driven wheel 10, and this shifting operation is accomplished by a lever 24, (Fig. Il), pivoted at 25. and fitted to a shifter ring 26 on the hub of the drive wheel 15.

I claim 1.' ln a power transmission device, a drive member. differential gearing includingr a driven member movable along said drive member to var v the speed of said differential g'earing` axle sections operable by said differential gearing. and reinforcing arms extending from said driven member and fitted to said axle sections.

2. ln a power transmission device, a drive member. differential gearing including a driven member movable along said drive member to vary eine speed of said dierentlal gearing with respect to the speed ci said drive member, axle sections operable by said diiierenfrial gearing, and reinforcing arms secured to and extending from said driven member and slidably itfted to said axle sections.

3. )In a device of the character .described a trussed axle structure including sirurs and anle sections rotatably mounted in said struts, didereniiai gearing arranged between said strufe and provided with roiaitable aide rumena secions slidably tited to the rirst named' axle sections, a drive member for operating said diderelmbial gearing, and means for moving said dierential gearing along the face of said drive member and between said struts so as to vary the speed of said difierentiall gearing with respect to the speed of said drive member.

JSEPH 1P., LEGGIETTQ. lin the presence eniil. H. W'Mmneg drap li., C. Hormon., 

